We asked brwarchitects principal Bruce Wardell to give us insight into the state of architecture in the area, what inspires him, and why he chooses to practice in Virginia. Here’s what he had to say. Why architecture? When we describe the best cities in the world, they are filled with places that have been intentionally […]
We asked brwarchitects principal Bruce Wardell to give us insight into the state of architecture in the area, what inspires him, and why he chooses to practice in Virginia. Here’s what he had to say. Why architecture? When we describe the best cities in the world, they are filled with places that have been intentionally […]
As children grow up, change is a constant. So it’s appropriate that their surroundings would continually evolve along with them. In the case of Kirk and Cathy Train, the process of raising two children has been intertwined with the process of building, rethinking and rebuilding their house. “Buildings and houses are living fabric,” said Kirk, […]
Upgrading a stoop to a screened porch is roughly like trading a cot for a California king: It really does make your life better. The owners of one 1940s-era house in Charlottesville knew they’d reap many benefits from investing in the outdoor space behind their home. Justin Heiser of the design-build firm STOA said it […]
In Dick and Sandi Averitt’s kitchen, beauty lives in the details. And the details in this mountain home are all wood: beams across the ceiling, paneling on the walls, and rich red oak floors running throughout the space. The Averitts’ cabin, their second home, underwent a complete renovation over the last 14 months that focused […]
When Jon and Lauren Thompson bought their Rugby neighborhood house three years ago, it was more than 60 years old and “in need of significant updates” throughout, said Jon. “The kitchen was the low-hanging fruit.” Besides aqua-hued formica countertops and a “gross” linoleum floor, the old kitchen suffered from layout problems. An exterior door to […]
There’s no architectural union more typically Charlottesville than the marriage of new and old. And the project of marrying a historical legacy to a fresh, modern sensibility isn’t limited to the residential world. At the Water Street offices of Signature, a financial management firm, past and present combine in an upscale office that honors its […]
Type “Annie Sloan Chalk Paint” into Pinterest and you’re faced with pages of shabby chic eye candy. Of course, the low-VOC, odorless paint from England isn’t just for dressed-down DIY projects, and thanks to new décor store Studio Eleven, you can see for yourself. The Downtown Mall store is an exclusive chalk paint stockist (the […]
The view from Ken and Britton Horne’s large living room windows could easily be mistaken for a depiction from the Civil War, with rolling hills spreading out at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, cows slowly ruminating, resting under huge trees, lonely structures in the distance. The occasional noise of a passing car is the […]
Mary Kelly counts on the sun to brighten her days. Not in the way you might think, though. The Charlottesville resident had solar panels installed on her Lexington Avenue home in October and now, sunny days mean she’s whittled her electric bill down to almost nothing. “I’ve been an outdoor enthusiast for years,” Kelly said. […]
Resides in: Charlottesville Best known for: Trawling local antique malls, refinishing furniture, and obsessing over design 24/7. 1. Antique or modern? 25 percent antique, 75 percent modern. 2. City or country? Country. 3. Which colors do you use most? Gray, white, and blue. 4. Which materials or textures do you frequently use? Bold patterned fabrics, […]